Page 234 of The Broken Aztec Princesses

“Let’s hope not. You guys have been through a lot and she’s still there. You have pups on the way, and that’s a lot of motivation for a wolf to keep fighting. She might be going dormant, though.”

“Isn’t that almost as bad? I’d pretty much be a human while she slumbers and there’s a chance she never wakes up from that state.”

“Yes. Both of those assessments are possible. I’d like to talk to her. Would I be able to do that?” Dr. Campbell asked.

Coyo, can you come forward and talk to Dr. Campbell?I asked my wolf, then watched with worry as my she tried to stand but collapsed. I felt tears stinging my eyes as she went back to sleep, not even uttering a word.

“She tried. She passed out trying to stand,” I answered, my lip voice trembling as I watched her breathing very shallowly.

“That’s... concerning. When did you start feeling like this?”

“A week ago,” I answered, making her frown.

“After your son was taken away?” she asked, and I nodded.

She stood up and picked up a book, but then shook her head, and put it back. She stood there looking at her shelf, with her hand to her mouth in silence, and then she came back to the seating area.

“I’m going to need to do some research. I’ve never heard of something like this happening in such a quick span of time, much less over losing a pup,” she told me, then amended, “Not that your love for your pup wasn’t great, but wolves are resilient creatures. I’ve only seen these types of symptoms when a mate dies, and it takes months for it to happen.”

“What is happening to her?”

“I-I think you’re right, Bells. I think she’s dying,” she answered, and hearing my fears coming from someone else made it feel real.

I felt tears leaving my eyes as I prepared myself to ask the question I already knew the answer to.

“But if she dies—” I started.

“You die,” she answered.

I lost the last thread of my composure and began to sob. This couldn’t be happening. Not after everything we’d been through.

Fight it Coyo. We have our twins to think about,I begged my wolf, but she was unresponsive.

“Can I call someone to come pick you up?” Dr. Campbell asked once I’d calmed down a bit, but I shook my head.

“I need to think. Thank you, Dr. Campbell.”

“Bells,” she called as I stood to leave. “I’d like to be able to consult with a few people. It could be something we’re not thinking about. Would that be okay?”

“I’ll talk to Dr. Roswell about it tonight, but give me two days to figure out how to tell my family.”

I walked out of there and made my way to my room, where I crawled under the covers, holding my stomach, as I let outmore tears thinking about how I was already failing my pups. Eventually, my tears ran out, and I began to plan. I needed to figure out what I was going to do. I needed to make a will and set my affairs in order. At least, I didn’t have a pack to worry about anymore.

I was calm by the time Violet came and grabbed me for dinner. I felt like I was in a fog as I watched them interact, as if the world wasn’t collapsing around me. I drank in their laughs and smiles, knowing I wouldn’t be able to watch many more of them.

After dinner, I reached out to Dr. Roswell, and I went to meet her at her house, knowing there would be concern from every angle if anyone saw her coming to my room. It took almost all of my energy to walk all the way to her house, but I stood straight when I got to her door.

“Is there somewhere we can talk in private?” I asked her quietly when I entered. I didn’t want anyone else to know until I had a solid plan in place and for that, I needed to talk to other people before I told my family.

“Oh, of course. Let’s head down to Evergreen’s office. It’s soundproof and as secure as you can get.”

I followed her down the stairs and I sat on a small loveseat while she sat on her mate’s chair.

“What can I do for you, Bells?”

“Dr. Campbell thinks my wolf is dying.” I went right into the issue. Her eyes widened, and I even thought I saw them watering, before she swallowed and nodded as if she had suspected as much and motioned for me to continue. “I ne—If my wolf’s dying, it’s going to happen soon. She couldn’t even get up earlier. She collapsed when Dr. Campbell asked her to come forward and has been passed out since. I need a way to extend my life until my pups are born,” I told her.

We talked for a few hours, and at the end of it, I felt both drained and relieved at the plan of action we came up with. As Iwalked back to my room, I reached out to the only people I knew would respect my decision, and do what needed to be done when the time came.

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